There is a lot of bad news around. I thought we could offset this by posting something that’s resulted from the lock-down or enforced stay-in that you think has improved your well-being or just the world in general.
Here’s mine: the sky is a deep blue, bluer than since the imagined blue of summer days when I was a kid. I know that this is because of the lack of diesel particles in the air (many cities are reporting nitrous oxide levels down 20-50% over last year) but that don’t matter. I just enjoy being outside and taking it in.
->
Edit – nitrogen dioxide, not nitrous oxide.
Unexpected bonus of Coronavirus #2
I was due to see a male doctor at the practice on Tuesday morning, following all the usual tests for 50somethings with concerns ‘down below’. But the surgery is only doing telephone consultations at the moment. All the test results gave reassuring news, and there are some examinations you just can’t do down the phone. Result!
*serious grown-up face* But make sure you go and get explored as soon as you can, Mr C. There are worse things.
My down below specialist Down Under is a woman, and a very attractive one at that. Very confusing. I was thinking, some people would pay good money for this, and then I reminded myself that paying good money was exactly what I was doing.
I know, I know, but there’s no point in rushing these things is there?
(“Yes” : Ed)
Downside of likely no folk festivals this summer is that I am unable to, um, do you a favour. With your usual dancing gear it would so easy, too.
I believe the lost verse of ‘Foggy, Foggy Dew’ related to a proctologist who came to the engine driver’s bedside in the night.
Eeek. I was sleeping so well.
I go to a small local hospital to see my IBD consultant, and I was there a few weeks ago when my mum had back surgery. I recognised one of the nurses at the tea machine, and we had quite a long chat.
It was only afterwards that I remembered the last time we’d met. I was laying down with an open hospital gown on, and she was safeguarding me as my consultant went “up periscope”.
And, yes, do go for that checkup as soon as you can.
I’m working from home while self isolating for at least 12 weeks. I get the main bedroom with my music, but no TV. I haven’t missed TV for a second. It has really made me realise what a ridiculous amount of records and CDs I have. I don’t need to buy another one ever.
I feel your pain. And then I did the right thing when bandcamp waived their fees for the day. And HMV still keep sending me emails reminding me of their continued sale.
I’m not sure how the HMV website is an essential service, but it’s keeping my credit card and postie busy.
I’m the same. In fact, I’ve hardly watched TV much at all really the past week or so, which is surprising.
1. I’ve stopped biting my nails. You’d have thought the opposite, but the instruction to keep your hands away from your face has hit home and so my talons have grown. This morning I was showering with my usual vigour and almost did myself an injury down below.
2. I’m really enjoying seeing the inside of people’s homes in the various Skype interviews. I’m especially happy if the interviewee is sitting in front of a bookshelf.
3. Also, the other day, I arrived at the Co-Op at what was clearly the tail end of a big delivery, and as a result I was able to get loo roll, pasta, bread, soup, hand gels, the lot. My trolley was absolutely rammed. At the checkouts I turned to see an old chap behind me with only two items, looking sad. He said. ‘I’ve only managed to get a box of Kleenex and a bag of nuts. Everything else is gone.’ I felt terrible. There I was with all this stuff waiting in the queue and this poor old chap had nothing. So I did the right thing. I said to him, ‘Go on, mate, you go in front, you’ve only got two things.’
Awesome. That’s the Blitz spirit, right there.
3. Have an up!
@leicester-bangs – I was totally taken in by no 3, big laugh here at BC towers.
While we can still run outside, the exercise and thinking more consciously about the amount of food we consume is leading to some weight loss. Looking forward to aceing those PB’s when the 10ks and half marathons restart.
Actually, now I come to think about it, a couple of things.
1. The beautiful weather. When this is over we’ll remember the weather, much as people did during the first days of WW2.
2. The way that small local (or national) food and drink suppliers are stepping into the gap left by the chaos of the supermarket delivery system (speaking as someone who’s not allowed to go out any more). Their actions aren’t without self-interest of course, but there’s no sign that any of them are profiteering.
And the quiet. I can hear all the birds instead of the traffic.
And I live within 5 miles of an airport so I can usually hear them taking off in the distance. Not now. I remember the same during the Icelandic volcano eruption a few years ago.
Peace and quiet. It’s lovely.
The cycling is wonderful. Empty roads and great weather, and a note in my pocket from my employer reassuring the Constabulary that I am a key worker required to carry out essential work in the North of England. That gives me quite a lot of scope.
The dawn chorus this morning was wonderful.
Dogs are getting multiple walks if they are lucky enough to live with a ‘family’.
My other half is currently in Mumbai, visiting her family. We’ve been video chatting on WhatsApp since she’s been there and with the five and a half hour time difference to the UK, she often calls after midnight her time. I used to comment on the continuous noise outside her window at that time of night – traffic horns, sirens, dogs barking, all the general hubbub of a major metropolis that stay up very late.
Since India was placed on a 21 day lockdown earlier this week, I have noticed that the only background noise is the birds singing in the trees outside her window.
About a month ago at parents’ evening, we were told our 5 year old daughter was struggling with reading and would benefit from one-on-one support which the teacher couldn’t always provide. We had been stepping up what we do at home since then, but with the schools closed I’m basically on indefinite parental leave and am able to do far more with her, so it feels like this could be a tiny silver lining for us. On the other hand, I’ve realised that I do all my reading and podcast listening at work and while commuting, so there’s been no time for any of that!
Haven’t been here for a long while. But read this, I found it a candle in the dark
https://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/blog/cultural-cross-sections/italian-quarantine-baret-magarian
That’s marvellous, thanks for sharing. Welcome back!
I’m assuming that professional burglars are struggling to find enough empty houses which has to be a good thing.
Yes, I was thinking that their activities must stand out like a sore thumb at the moment.
“Excuse me sir, is this journey really essential in the course of your work?”
“Well officer, sort of.”
“Could you carry out this work from home?”
“Not my own home. No.”
Well there’s this:
http://wordpodcast.co.uk/2020/03/26/podcast-318-a-for-the-duration-podcast-in-which-mark-ellen-and-david-hepworth-talk-about-joni-mitchell-krakatoa-and-the-importance-of-dressing-properly-while-wfh/
Yes, there are so many new podcasts to listen to I can barely get any work done. Plus ca change.
Welcome back, btw.
The reduction in the number of cars on the road is such a relief, I just wish that everyone felt the same way. The opportunity to slow down, think, hear the birdsong; it’s something to cherish.
Now that we have no commutes to do, Me and Mrs E are both rediscovering the joy of cooking meals. If I could only find some fresh bakers’ yeast, Project Brioche would get off the ground…
Adding to my thread (micro flounce alert).
The birds are flocking to the patio now I am at home to put feed out every day. I also get some exercise scaring off the pigeons, those bullies.
I saw a jay yesterday, poking around on the lawn – a nice change from the usual magpies and crows. Never seen one round here before.
Where are you Mike?
Staying in Scotland speaking to the B and B owner one time I pointed out that there was a Jay.
She was very dismissive as it seems they are the magpie equivalent at least in the area she lives in. No magpies there.
Jays do seem to have become last secretive these last few years.
They tend to stick to woodland. Although I have seen one in my garden a couple of times.
That’s really odd, I saw two Jays today out on my Post round. A beautiful flash of blue, then gone.
The Buzzards are getting quite brave as well, swooping a lot lower than I seem to remember.
Folkestone…not much woodland hereabouts, but plenty of trees. Mostly acres upon acres of lawns.
I live a couple of miles from the Port of Los Angeles. We’re up on the hill and get a great view of the port and Catalina Island. Since the number of cars on the road has diminished so much (I still have to go down to the office 40 miles away now and again, and now it takes 50 minutes instead of the usual hour and a half) the views are incredible. It’s so clear now that we can see the coastline that stretches all the way down to Orange County. You can also clearly see downtown LA from here.
Once the lockdown is over, I wonder how long it’ll take for the smog to come back? Not long, I bet.
Can you post up a pic? I’d love to see that.
I can’t seem to get the image to work! FAQ says use Photobucket’s “direct” link but that didn’t work.
Try imgur upload, photobucket has been a problem.
Photobucket doesn’t host images that you can use on other sites – like this – any more, without paying them. Imgur does, but I’ve found that uploading images to your Imgur account is a bit flaky; I upload, close Imgur, reopen it and then copy and paste the link.
Thank you!
If you click on the photo, go to Imgur and then click again to magnify the image, you can see the container ships out in the bay, and the Orange Count coast line.
Sorry, that’s as good as I could manage at lunch time!